Supplication in the Prostration of the Prayer

Question

It is in the hadith that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to supplicate in prostration (sajda). What is meant by this: did he, after finishing the prayer, go into prostration and supplicate in it, or did he supplicate during the prayer, during the prostration? Someone told me that during the prayer, when he went into prostration, he would remain prostrate for hours, supplicating with tears and entreaty. I need an explanation of this.

Answer

He used to pray nafl prayers very long, and the qiyam too was very long: sometimes he would recite a juz’ and a quarter in one rak‘a. With such a long qiyam the ruku‘ too was long, and the sajda was likewise in proportion; and besides the tasbihs there are also some supplications. This is a matter of utmost intimacy (uns) with the prayer and relish (dhawq)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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